Collapsible refrigerated tray



July 5, 1949. T. L. PECKINPAUGH -GOLLAPSIBLE REFRIGERATED TRAY 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1948 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

July 5, 1949. -r. L. PECKINPAUGH 2,475,513

' COLLAPSIBLE REFRIGERATED TRAY Filed Jan. 12, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 THOMflS L. PECKINPAUGH.

' IN VEN TOR.

F7 T TORNE Y5 Patented July 5, 1 949 52,475,51 3 'GOLLAPSIBIJE nnrarc'naa'rap ma Thomas Becki-hpaugh, Downey, flali.,: assigncr its TransitrFreese, 11n Reno; .Ncm, a comoration of cvada Application January 12, 119418, SerialNo.?1,-883

(6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to trays and more particularly to collapsible, refrigerated trays.

The trays embodying the features of this invention are generally applicable as containers for meat or other perishable commodities and are especially adapted for use with refrigeratedvehicles such as, for example, vehicles of the type disclosed in applicant's co-pending application, Serial No. 735,898 filed Marc-i120, I947. The suc cessful operation of ,such refrigerated vehicles necessitates eflicientuse of available space, practical arrangements for loading and unloading commodity containers and provision of means forrnaintain-ingthc perishable commodities in a frozen state after the containers have been removed ,from the vehicle as well as during transportationgfrom the vehicle to the point of delivery. Furthermore, it is essential that he containers be adapted for compact storage in a minimum of space when not use.

It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible tray of-stu-rdy construction which may be simply and easily set. up. and collapsed, the sides of which may be securely locked and rigidly held together when thertray is set up.

Another object of this invemtion to provide a collapsible tray having skids .onthe lowermost face of the tray bottom, thus adapting the tray for movement on skidways secured to the ibed of a refrigerated vehicle.

:Still another. .obiectof. this invention is :to provide a collapsible tray having corner reinforcing elements provided with a positive locking means which permits the tray to berigidly held together when set up andwhic-h protects the meeting edges of the walls of the tray from damage.

A further object of this invention is to provide a collapsible, refrigerated tray including sidewalls having handles secured to the outer faces thereof which are provided with compartments adapted to receive a refrigerant.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a collapsible, refrigerated tray formed of elements of stock metal having good heat conductivity properties which may be simply and inexpensively assembled to produce a sturdy device having good wearing qualities.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein.

Figure l is a perspective view showing a tray embodying the features of this invention in collapsed position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the collapsi- 2 b-le tray in its setup position and supported by shidways;

Figured "is a fragmentary perspective view of the tray locking means securedron a sidewall reinforc-ing angle Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rearwa'll of the tray showing the locking pin:

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a tray handle showing the refrigerant compartment in dotted lines; and

Figure '6 is a detailed vertical .sectionltairen along line twfi of Figure 5 showing tray handle and refrigerant compartment.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the tray embodying this invention comprises a bottom 1., a rear wall 2 and a pair of side walls :3-3.' The rear wall 2*is secured 'to theibottom .l bya pianotype hinge 4 and the side walls 3-:3 are secured to the bottom l by hinges l5-='.5. The portions of the hinges 5-5 which are secured to the bottom l are bent inwardly to engage theilowermostiface of the bottom 1 and may be attached "thereto by welding, rivets or other suitable means. Reinforcing strip Bat *of metalemay be secured to the uppermost race of the Ehottorn I immediately above the inwardly directed portions of the hinges 5H5. The edges of the side walls 3-.-3 adjacent the-edges ofth-e rear wall :2 have heavy metal .amg les T l- -secured thereto by rivets ill.

The locking means for rigidly securing the tray in its set uppositicn comprise-pins :8.--8 rhaving reduced portions whichvprojectthrough openings in the rear-wall 12 and are peen'edeto secure the pins to the rear wall. Each of the :pins '8--.8 is provided withuan annular slot, "8. 'The angles l1 are each provided with openings II] in the portion thereof which extends inwardly over the back of the rear wall 2 and are thus adapted to engage the pins 88 projecting from the rear wall 2. A sliding latch ll having a slot l2 and bifurcated portions |2l2 formed therein is secured to the back of each angle member 1 by a pin l4. A guide pin IS on each of the angles 1-! projects between the bifurcated portions l3-l3 to provide for movement of the latch ll only along the longitudinal axis thereof. The bifurcated portions l3l3 of each latch are adapted to engage the annular slot 9 in the pin 8 when the latter projects through the opening ll] of a reinforcing angle 1. The latches lll I thus cooperate with pins 88 to secure the rear wall 2 to the side walls 3--3 and provide a rigid structure when the tray is in its set up position.

The side walls 33 are provided with handles l6-l6 formed of channel-shaped members havin extensions I! which are secured to the outer faces of the side walls 3-3 by welding, brazing or other suitable means. A tongue portion I8 is stamped from each of the handles IBIB and bent inwardly toward the side walls and thence upwardly to provide a comfortable hand grip. A partition I9 is secured within each handle l6 and thus forms the bottom of a compartment adapted to receive a refrigerant such as, for example, solid carbon dioxide. The refrigerant compartments formed by the upper portions of each channel-shaped member l6 and the correspondin partition l9 are secured directly to the side walls and thus are capable of cooling all parts of the collapsible tray.

The collapsible trays embodying this invention are especially adapted for use in refrigerated vehicles. In vehicles of this type it is preferred to make provision for movement of a series of trays on either racks or the vehicle bed from a loading point at the forward end of the vehicle toward a discharge point at the rear of the vehicle. This may be accomplished by securing half-round skid members 20 to the lowermost face of the bottom I of the tray. The skids 20 are adapted to rest upon skidways comprising channels 2| provided with skid rolls 22. The skidways may be secured to a vehicle bed or racks Provided in the vehicle.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that this invention provides a collapsible tray which may be folded to occupy a limited amount of storage space or may be quickly and simply set up and rigidly locked. The trays may be formed of light sheet metal stock and are provided with reinforcing elements which impart strength to the tray as well as protect the vertical edges thereof from damage when the trays are set up. The further feature of providing the side walls of the tray with handles having compartments adapted to receive a refrigerant insures thorough and complete cooling of the tray at all times.

I claim:

1. A collapsible tray comprising a bottom, a rear wall, a pair of side walls, hinges connecting said rear and side walls to said bottom, angle members secured to the vertical edge of each side wall adjacent the vertical edges of said rear wall and coextensive thereof, a portion of each of said angle members being directed inwardly over the back surface of said rear wall, latch means secured to each of the inwardly directed portions of said angle members, and latch engageable means secured to said rear wall.

2. A collapsible tray comprising a bottom, a

ing adapted to engage one of said pins and a sliding latch secured to the back of each of the inwardly directed portions of said angle membersadapted to engage said pins.

3. A collapsible tray as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pins are provided with annular slots and said sliding latch on said angle members are bifurcated and adapted to engage the annular slot of said pins.

4. A collapsible tray comprising a bottom, a rear wall, a pair of side walls, hinges connecting said rear and side walls to said bottom, angle members secured to the vertical edge of each side wall adjacent the vertical edges of said rear Wall and coextensive thereof, a portion of each of said angle mmebers being directed inwardly over the back surface of said rear wall and a handle secured in heat conductive relation to each of said side walls, said handles being provided with a refrigerant compartment.

5. A collapsible tray as set forth in claim 4 wherein said handle comprises a channel-shaped member secured to said wall, a tongue portion formed adjacent the lowermost edge of said channel-shaped member, said tongue being bent inwardly toward said side wall and upwardly to provide a hand grip.

6. A collapsible tray as set forth in claim 5 wherein a horizontally positioned partition is secured within said channel-shaped member to provide a hand grip compartment and a refrigerant compartment.

THOMAS L. PECKINPAUGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenices are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,017,469 McKee Oct. 15, 1935 2,087,496 Beasley July 20, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 498,133 France Dec. 30, 1919 

